Seraph’s Gambit- Episode 46
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Olivia
Olivia’s leg wouldn’t stop shaking. She sat on the cell’s large cot. With every weapon impact against the ship, she wanted to get up and run. But Serene was already pacing back and forth across the cell. She didn’t want to give in to fear like her.
An eternity had passed since the alarms had started. For a long time, nothing had happened. Then suddenly, the ship had rocked from almost continuous fire. Olivia
Continuing to hold herself planted on the cot, several minutes went by before she realized the shuttering had stopped. Serene’s pacing never slowed and appeared oblivious to the change. Not wanting to jinx things, Olivia remained silent.
When the barrage still didn’t resume, she finally said, “Is it over? Did we win?”
“We’re still trapped in a damn jail cell. So, no, we didn’t win.” Serene growled.
“I’d call being alive a win,” Olivia said, crossing her arms.
“Oh, you simple child.”
“I’m not a child!”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
Several long, tense minutes went by before the doors to the brig slid open. Echoes of weapons fire bounded in from the halls. Serene and Olivia became quiet, and both moved to get a better look. The door stood open with no sign of who opened it for a full minute. Blasts from weapon fire continued, a few stray shots flying through the door.
After a minute, a trio of figures dashed into the brig. Two were human and the other Echanic. All carried rifles. The battle outside continued, but at a slower pace.
“Javi, Javi, Javi.” One of the humans said shaking his head, “Look what’s become of you. Trapped like an animal by the very people you wanted to save.”
“Mitchell,” Javi said flatly.
“How could you have betrayed us? For this? You’re trying to help them, and what does the first government you meet do? They imprison you.”
“It’s a price I’m willing to pay. I still believe in the cause, just not your way of achieving it.”
“They weren’t going to give us our liberty. We need to take it.”
“We were making progress. How many planets did LFD win majorities on?”
“We only won those by playing their games. And what has that gained us? The PUG still overshadows each world. We haven’t even had any success dismantling the governments we control. People just cling to their oppressors, afraid to lose the free handouts,” Mitchell ranted. “That’s why we needed the AI. We need to force them to grow.”
“How does that make you any different than our oppressors? You’re taking away their free will.”
“I’m giving them back their free will!” Mitchell growled, and then sighed, “But I see you haven’t changed. Maybe being back among your people will help.”
With a gesture of his hand, one of the others opened Javi’s cell. The human gestured with his gun for Javi to come out. Defiantly, Javi remained where he was. The human moved into the cell and grabbed his arm, hauling Javi out.
Javi smiled, “Someone won’t do what you want, so you force them with violence? I feel so liberated.”
“Get him to the ship,” Mitchell said dismissively. He then turned toward the other cell. Olivia stepped back involuntarily. Mitchell smiled as he approached. He then opened the cell door, stepped back and bowed, “You are free ladies.”
“Just like that?” Olivia said skeptically, “You capture him and are just going to let us go.”
“Just like that.” Mitchell said with another smile, “I’m here to liberate. I don’t know why these rockheads have you locked up. It doesn’t matter. No one should be confined.”
“No one but Javi.”
“He’s a special case. A traitor to the cause.” Mitchell said, “If you believe in the cause of freedom, you are welcome to join us. I can only break your chains, but you need to decide to remain free.”
“You’ll take us off this ship?” Serene asked with interest.
“Yes. You can come to my ship. From here, we go to bring the fight straight to the heart of the PUG behemoth. Help us end the tyranny.”
“I’d love to end some tyranny.” Serene smiled.
“Serene!” Olivia blurted, grabbing the other woman’s arm, “They are the ones who brought back the AI.”
“Not my first choice to be sure, but it’s better than staying here,” Serene said dismissively. “If you’re smart kid, you’ll come too.
Shaking her head emphatically, Olivia said, “No, I can’t go with them. Not with the AI.”
“Being on the ship that controls the AI is the safest place from the AI,” Serene said, emphasizing her words.
Without thinking, Olivia shook her head emphatically, “No. Not with that abomination.”
“Kid, I don’t really like you. But I also don’t want to leave you to this fate.” Serene said, and then again, emphasized her words, “You can do some good with me. On their ship.”
“She’s made up her mind.” Mitchell said, cutting Serene off. “Though I wouldn’t want to be on this ship for much longer. I don’t shoot down escape pods. Something to keep in mind.”
He gestured for Serene to go ahead of him. Serene cast a glance back toward Olivia. She hid her emotions behind her eye implant, but Olivia thought there was some regret there.
Stubbornly, she crossed her arms and planted herself at the cell door watching them leave.
Continue to Episode 47
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